The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-27

gerous passes, than spend his time
with the finest of the maids of the
hamlet.
His mother often said: my son,
when wilt thou bring me home a
daughter and thyself wife ?"
And Gustauvs, smiling and pres
sing kiss on her forehead, would
answer:
"When | find maid as good as
thou, but want no idle, shrill-voiced
wife to disturb our quiet home"
But one day his mother said more
sadly and seriously than ever before :
"Gustayus, l am growing old and
feeble. l can no longer make and
mend thy clothes and keep our
home. Thou must have a wife.
Promise me at the fete next week
thou wilt choose one from among the
maidens there.n
~Gustavus reluctantly gave her the
desired promise, but it weighed
heavily upon him. He could think
of nothing else afterward, and the
more he pondered the heavier his
heart grew. At last he seized his
gun and went out on the mountain,
but the perplexing questions follow
ed him until in despair he threw
himself on the ground, groaning :
"Oh, that some wise man would
make this choice for me! !"
A moment after he looked up and
saw, as if in answer to his wish, the
wizard approaching him. why"
he exclaimed to himself did L not
think OF him before? Surely he, if
any one, can help me. Then, with a
throbbing heart, Gustayus sprang up
and advanced to meet him. The
wizard greeted Gustayus warmly,
for he felt strCng friendship for the
young guide, who had taken him
safely through many a dangerous
CACuISiOus
And now his sympathetic question,
"Why what's troubling you. my
boy ?" opened the way for Gustavus
to pour out all his perplexity, ending
his recital with the question, "Canst
thou not help me choose a good wife,
who will make my life happy, from
the maidens at the fete next week ?''
The wizard smiled sympathetic
cally, and then thought in silence a
little while before he answered:
IF pure, true heart is united to q
true, pure heart, both lIyes must be
happy. There will be one such heart
at the fete, but you may fail to rec
ognize it. However, if you will
come to me tomorrow 1 will give
you charm that will show you this
heart"
Here was comfort indeed, and with
light heart Gustayus thanked his
friend and bounded forward. Left
alone the wizard continued down the
mountain side until he came IN sight
of the widow Neur's chalet, where
he found Marie sitting by the spring.
Instead of her usual sunshiny smile,
tiny teardrops stood in her eyes, and
there was a grieved look about her
rosy lips that made him wish to com
fort her.
'What is the matter, little one 2"
he asked, gently.
"Oh, sir" she said, 81 want to see
the great fete next week, but have
no pretty ornaments to wear, and
then" The long curtains dropped
low over her shining eyes, and the
sweet voice sank almost to whisper
1.-THE good mother says none of the
young men will care to dance with
me, for cannot talk and laugh with
them as other maidens. NV heart
beats fast if they do but glance to.
ward me, and l know not what tc
say, and so"-here a tear slipped
from under the long eyelashes-"my
mother says | had better not CO."
Courage, little one," the wizard
answered. "Tell yuor mother 1 am
going to lend you a silver belt tc
wear, and that my knowledge tells
Ue that the bravest, handsomest
youth in all the land will dance with
you quite joyfully." The happy
Marie, as Gustavus had done, thank.
ed the wizard, and ran off to tell the
wonderful news to her mother.
Early next morning Gustavus went
for his charm. He found the wizard
waiting for him, and taking him into
his strange room, the wise man said
smiling, as he had the day before
half quizzically, half sympatheti
cally: Here's the charm, my good
fellow. You see it is a magic ring
Put it on before you go to the fete
and be sure you dance with every
maiden there. When you place youl
arm around the waist of the one